Went in for a fill two weeks ago to bring my 10cc band to 6.4cc. A week later I was having a hard time eating and heavily stuck episodes. I went back to the dr who did a barium and I had a slight dilation. They took out 2cc and said that we cannot go to 6.4 cc again. I am on liquids only for the next 3 days and then mushie and back to regular food after that. I am scared I won't recover and I won't feel restriction again. Right now I am starving. Has anyone had this ?

Out of curiosity, how long have you been banded?

I know nothing -- just banded in November. But what about five day pouch test, or a few days juicing, etc.?

I was banded in September 2013.

Yes, been there done that. I have had a slip four times now. They tell you it is easy to slip again after the first time. I had to be completely unfilled each time.....and start over getting .5 and1.0cc's at a time, which of course sabotaged my progress. The last time I was unfilled was two weeks ago. I had good restriction and had lost 13 pounds within one month, so I was feeling good about myself. This last dilation sent me back to my original surgeon so I could have an EGD which I just completed Tuesday. The results were good, no dilation, erosion, etc. I have been able to keep off the weight I lost since being banded in 2010 but somewhere along the way, I've gotten out of training for recognizing satiety. I think you will be okay, just return to the basics of chewing, eating small bites, etc.

The reality I for one have experienced about 'restriction' haven't ever been worth the anxiety I thought I had about that very issue.

"Restriction" while a physical measurement, is only a gross and temporary aide as our Rational Brain learns how to train our eating behavior and tame our Belly Beasts in a time frame our Adult Emotional status can learn to control.

I believe a constant state of "restriction" is not the goal. It is a necessary step for one such as myself, as it gave space and time to learn how to do something I lost track of somewhere in adolescence. The unfettered emotional and irrational aspect of my eathing behavior took over what Normo Eating Behavior should have been.

Bandsters progress through phases not only in 'food' but in 'eating behavior', which at first is the obvious Band Restriction.

And for me that is/was a most necessary step. Learning to use my Brain to moderate my eating behavior such that I eat when hungry and stop when not hungry, is/was a major goal. The real tool in the longer term is not just physical 'Restriction' IMHO.

That area is quite elastic and the potential is for your Dr to help you maintain a functional Band. It IS essential to understand what his goals and methods are so you can help with that process. I too have a 'little dialation' but not so much. Some days it is difficult to tell whether it's my Band, my pouch, my Belly Beasts, or my Brain that is in control of what/how much I eat. Sometimes it is merely my elbow, that continues to bend regardless of hunger/satiety or sport eating mode.

At least that's how *I* see my own issue. YMMV.

I take it that because your band was too tight, you could not get anything down..or through your band I should say, resulting in dilation....

In other words, the problem was not dilation, but your band being too tight...

There is always a 50-50 balance between a band being too tight, And/or we do not know the proper way to eat...we cannot eat like we used to...I gave up many foods, eat small, chew well, no drinking with meals, etc, etc...otherwise I would never be able to eat again....ad have to get Fluid taken out...

I hate to think your Dr. said no more fills, primarily because you won't change your eating habits...harsh to say, but my Surgeon and staff share some whopping stories with me about (nameless) people who refuse to comply and fight change.

My portion sizes are per-determined by my band, providing I stop when my band says stop...and sure enough, each time the portion size is generally the same....

I say that, because over time, I will begin to notice my portions sizes getting larger...OR simply realizing I have been eating more than usual....it is then I believe I have experienced some Dilation.....things just get too easy, eating and food types that is...

I will then go all liquids, and very soft foods (same as your Dr. is prescribing) for 2-3 days...after which I find my band to be as good as new....

I have been doing this for a few years...I know when the slightest variations from normal day to day occur....I had my last fill 30 months ago...so I have learned to "Listen" to my band pretty well now....

I'm not saying this for everybody, only what I have learned for Myself....

Dilation only occurs when you are over eating and food backs up into the esophagus. You have to measure your portions out and try not to go over that. Having your band too tight makes the food go down slower and it backing up.

Pouch enlargement

Pouch enlargement (type-III prolapse) is diagnosed when dilation of the proximal gastric pouch is present with or without change in the angle of the band and in the absence of signs of obstruction. The lower esophagus may or may not be dilated. Pouch enlargement is a pressure-related phenomenon that may be surgically induced by band overinflation or overeating with resulting high pressure in the pouch.You might have an overzealous Surgeon as well .

Symptoms of pouch enlargement include lack of satiety, heartburn, regurgitation and occasional chest pain. The diagnosis is made with an upper gastrointestinal series

GOOD LUCK !!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3038361/

I take it that because your band was too tight, you could not get anything down..or through your band I should say, resulting in dilation....

In other words, the problem was not dilation, but your band being too tight...

There is always a 50-50 balance between a band being too tight, And/or we do not know the proper way to eat...we cannot eat like we used to...I gave up many foods, eat small, chew well, no drinking with meals, etc, etc...otherwise I would never be able to eat again....ad have to get Fluid taken out...

I hate to think your Dr. said no more fills, primarily because you won't change your eating habits...harsh to say, but my Surgeon and staff share some whopping stories with me about (nameless) people who refuse to comply and fight change.

My portion sizes are per-determined by my band, providing I stop when my band says stop...and sure enough, each time the portion size is generally the same....

I say that, because over time, I will begin to notice my portions sizes getting larger...OR simply realizing I have been eating more than usual....it is then I believe I have experienced some Dilation.....things just get too easy, eating and food types that is...

I will then go all liquids, and very soft foods (same as your Dr. is prescribing) for 2-3 days...after which I find my band to be as good as new....

I have been doing this for a few years...I know when the slightest variations from normal day to day occur....I had my last fill 30 months ago...so I have learned to "Listen" to my band pretty well now....

I'm not saying this for everybody, only what I have learned for Myself....

Thank you...I will try this....I have been banded over a year and have learned over the past month to really listen to my band...I have noticed a strange sign when I start to get full...I hiccup...have you ever experienced this?